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BERKELEY, CALIF.—Local skateboard legend Jim Thiebaud has definitely made good

The co-founder of Real Skateboards, one of the biggest and most respected board companies in the U.S., Thiebaud announced a new fundraising partnership on Monday with East Bay rockers Green Day that will benefit Children’s Hospital & Research Center in Oakland.

“It’s a true collaboration with Green Day,” Thiebaud told the Daily News. “I’ve been friends with Billie Joe for more than 15 years. I grew up in Berkeley and Oakland. When you were a punk rocker or a skateboarder, you stuck out, so you got to know everyone in the scene.”

Mimicking the graphics for Green Day’s latest, multi-album release, “Uno!,” “Dos!,” and “Tré!,” Real is issuing custom skateboards that the company will sell in skate shops and online. Proceeds will go to Children’s Hospital.

Real Skateboards co-founder Jim Thiebaud has been friends with Armstrong for more than 15 years, and said he has long wanted to collaborate on a project with Green Day.

“Skateboarding is an amazing platform,” Thiebaud said. “It’s not just about pushing a board; you can use it to change the world.”

Thiebaud, now in charge of brand marketing at Real Skateboards’ parent company, Deluxe, did not have a storybook road to business success.

In 1985, when he in his second year at San Jose State University, Thiebaud dropped out to follow his dream of becoming a professional skateboarder.

“Basically I left to get into a van and drive around the country,” Thiebaud said. “I was living the dream. I wasn’t getting paid, but I didn’t care about that.”

The proceeds from the special Green Day boards will go to Children's Hospital & Research Center, where Armstrong's sister works.

Thiebaud’s father had another opinion altogether.

“My dad didn’t like it,” Thiebaud. “To this day, we don’t speak to each other because of it.”

As a touring pro at Powell-Peralta, Thiebaud became close with another street skating pioneer, Tommy Guerrero, and the two eventually decided to strike out on their own.

With backing from some of the people behind Thrasher magazine, Thiebaud and Guerrero founded Real in 1991. Today, the expanded Deluxe brand employs 40 people at the company’s San Francisco headquarters.

“It’s a difficult industry,” Thiebaud said. “You have to be incredibly committed to what you’re doing.”

At the same time that Real was carving out its spot in the skateboarding industry, Green Day was starting to gel as a band, releasing “Dookie,” it’s first album on a major label, in 1994. Through it all, Thiebaud maintained his friendship with Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong.

“I remember I had a big talk Billie Joe, who let me know it would be okay to become a father,” Thiebaud said, “that it would work out.”

Thiebaud’s own son is now in middle school and has his father’s unconditional backing.

“Whatever he’s into, I will support it 100%,” Thiebaud said.

Though Thiebaud said he and Armstrong have wanted to collaborate on a project for some time, he gives all the credit for this fundraiser to Green Day.

“Billie Joe’s sister works at Children’s Hospital, and he suggested it,” Thiebaud said. “It’s entirely Green Day. I’m just lucky to be a part of it.”

BERKELEY, CALIF.—Local skateboard legend Jim Thiebaud has definitely made good

The co-founder of Real Skateboards, one of the biggest and most respected board companies in the U.S., Thiebaud announced a new fundraising partnership on Monday with East Bay rockers Green Day that will benefit Children’s Hospital & Research Center in Oakland.

“It’s a true collaboration with Green Day,” Thiebaud told the Daily News. “I’ve been friends with Billie Joe for more than 15 years. I grew up in Berkeley and Oakland. When you were a punk rocker or a skateboarder, you stuck out, so you got to know everyone in the scene.”

Mimicking the graphics for Green Day’s latest, multi-album release, “Uno!,” “Dos!,” and “Tré!,” Real is issuing custom skateboards that the company will sell in skate shops and online. Proceeds will go to Children’s Hospital.

Real Skateboards co-founder Jim Thiebaud has been friends with Armstrong for more than 15 years, and said he has long wanted to collaborate on a project with Green Day.

“Skateboarding is an amazing platform,” Thiebaud said. “It’s not just about pushing a board; you can use it to change the world.”

Thiebaud, now in charge of brand marketing at Real Skateboards’ parent company, Deluxe, did not have a storybook road to business success.

In 1985, when he in his second year at San Jose State University, Thiebaud dropped out to follow his dream of becoming a professional skateboarder.

“Basically I left to get into a van and drive around the country,” Thiebaud said. “I was living the dream. I wasn’t getting paid, but I didn’t care about that.”

The proceeds from the special Green Day boards will go to Children's Hospital & Research Center, where Armstrong's sister works.

Thiebaud’s father had another opinion altogether.

“My dad didn’t like it,” Thiebaud. “To this day, we don’t speak to each other because of it.”

As a touring pro at Powell-Peralta, Thiebaud became close with another street skating pioneer, Tommy Guerrero, and the two eventually decided to strike out on their own.

With backing from some of the people behind Thrasher magazine, Thiebaud and Guerrero founded Real in 1991. Today, the expanded Deluxe brand employs 40 people at the company’s San Francisco headquarters.

“It’s a difficult industry,” Thiebaud said. “You have to be incredibly committed to what you’re doing.”

At the same time that Real was carving out its spot in the skateboarding industry, Green Day was starting to gel as a band, releasing “Dookie,” it’s first album on a major label, in 1994. Through it all, Thiebaud maintained his friendship with Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong.

“I remember I had a big talk Billie Joe, who let me know it would be okay to become a father,” Thiebaud said, “that it would work out.”

Thiebaud’s own son is now in middle school and has his father’s unconditional backing.

“Whatever he’s into, I will support it 100%,” Thiebaud said.

Though Thiebaud said he and Armstrong have wanted to collaborate on a project for some time, he gives all the credit for this fundraiser to Green Day.

“Billie Joe’s sister works at Children’s Hospital, and he suggested it,” Thiebaud said. “It’s entirely Green Day. I’m just lucky to be a part of it.”